Records fall as Laker women rout Georgia Southwestern 107-47
Ragin scores 18 points as 19th-ranked Clayton State reaches 20-win season for third straight year

MORROW, Ga. — FEBRUARY 14, 2007 — Valentines Day was more than sweet for the Clayton State women’s basketball team.

Records and milestones fell on Wednesday as Clayton State returned home from a two-week hiatus, recording a 107-47 rout over visiting Georgia Southwestern at the Athletics and Fitness Center. The victory improved the 19th-ranked Lakers to 20-4 overall and 10-3 in the Peach Belt Conference. This marks the third straight 20-victory season for Clayton State under head coach Dennis Cox.

Clayton State eclipsed 100 points for the second time in program history, and the 107 points are a new single-game high for the Lakers. That bests the 100 points against Northwood in the second game of this season. In addition, Clayton State’s 60-point victory was two points off both the school record and Peach Belt Conference record margin of victory of 62 points.

Clayton State scored the game’s first 14 points and never looked back. The Lakers forced 12 Georgia Southwestern turnovers in the first half and held the Hurricanes to only 26 percent shooting from the field in taking a 55-23 lead at halftime.

In the second half, Clayton State led 64-32 when the Lakers ran away with a 23-1 run midway through the second half. Crystal Brown’s lay-up with 3:48 remaining put Clayton State over the century mark for the game.

Five Clayton State players scored in double-figures, led by Shantel Ragin’s 18 points on 8-for-12 shooting from the field. Roberta Phillips scored 14 points on 5-for-6 shooting from the field, while Sharon Wiles scored 13 points and Alecia Humphrey and Marie St. Fort each scored 10 points. Clayton State got a whopping 64 points off the bench, and the Lakers shot 81 percent (13-for-16) from the free throw line.

Defensively, Clayton State’s signature pressure defense forced 35 Georgia Southwestern turnovers and limited the Hurricanes to only 34 percent shooting from the field.

There were two individual milestones for Clayton State. Wiles recorded two steals to give her 201 for her career. She becomes the first Clayton State player ever to eclipse 200 career steals. Also, junior center Lynette Jackson recorded a blocked shot, the 59th this season that ties the school record previously held by Joya Collier in the 1999-2000 season.

For Georgia Southwestern (2-19, 0-13), Ivana Udovalieva and Krystal Thomas each scored eight points.

Clayton State plays its final road game of the 2006-07 season on Saturday – a 3 p.m. showdown at in-state Peach Belt rival North Georgia.


Laker women ranked 19th in new USA Today/ESPN Division II Top 25 Coach’s Poll
 19-4 Clayton State plays host to Georgia Southwestern on Wednesday

MORROW, Ga. --- FEBRUARY 13, 2007 --- The USA Today/ESPN Division II Top 25 Coach’s Poll for women’s basketball was released on Tuesday night, and the Clayton State Lakers maintained a Top 20 ranking.

 

The Lakers are ranked 19th in the new poll, down two spots from 17th last week. Clayton State received 147 points in this week’s poll after splitting two games last week. The Lakers fell 84-79 at Augusta State, but rebounded to knock off Georgia College 71-66 on Saturday.

 

Clayton State is the lone Peach Belt Conference team to be ranked in this week’s poll, but not the lone team from the state of Georgia. Valdosta State, who Clayton State defeated 78-71 on Dec. 16 of this season, is ranked 21st this week.

 

Clayton State plays at home for the first time in two weeks on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. against Peach Belt newcomer Georgia Southwestern.